Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D, Brooklyn) is taking the NYS Department of Transportation to task for failing to heed warnings regarding recent changes and restrictions on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. The Ocean Parkway Safety Improvement Project that the DOT implemented has resulted in far less safe conditions for drivers and pedestrians, says Hikind.
“Despite my repeated warnings and request for a delay in the implementation of these changes, the New York State DOT’s plan, which it hastened to implement, eliminated right and left turns along the mainline at several avenues,” Hikind explained in a letter to NYS Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew Driscoll. “As our community expected, some of these changes have snarled traffic and created far less safe conditions along the service roads, to say nothing of greater confusion to both motorists and pedestrians alike. The proof is in the increase in accidents in just the short time that these changes have gone into effect.”
In the six weeks from January 1st through February 15th, there have already been three (3) accidents on Kings Highway, four (4) accidents at Avenue P, and nine (9) accidents on Avenue J. Assemblyman Hikind’s office is continuously besieged by irate residents who have told horror stories of being stuck in traffic along the service roads; of school buses trapped behind sanitation and delivery trucks; and of parents unable to get their children to school on time. What had once been a 10 minute ride to a school now takes 35 minutes. Because of the turn restrictions, trying to get onto the Ocean Parkway mainline is now a nightmare of navigating side streets and service roads, simultaneously endangering pedestrians and residents on these streets.
“No matter where I go,” Hikind continued, “the overriding concern voiced to me is that of the additional traffic and changes along Ocean Parkway. In the 35 years that I have represented this district, I have never received as many complaints as I have regarding this issue. I have yet to meet a single resident who has felt that these changes have improved the community‘s safety. If anything, it has only served to reduce the quality of life, as it has forced more cars onto the surrounding side streets.”
Assemblyman Hikind requested that the DOT review and reconsider the turn-restriction changes that have been implemented before a real tragedy occurs.
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5 Responses
I agree. Ocean parkway is a mess. The traffic is out of control. A trip that used to take me 5 minutes now takes 15-20. It’s ridiculous. I hope they change it back. JUST SAYING!!!!
I do not use the service lanes on Ocean Parkway, but the traffic on the main lanes has definitely improved.
Making a right turn on Ave. I towards Bay Parkway has an immediate red light. Can somebody explain the reason why the light is not set to green to allow for smoother traffic flow. Haven’t seen any changes in traffic with all the “brilliant” changes made by some bereucrat sitting at a desk in Albany.
I avoid Ocean Parkway and take Coney Island Ave. There maybe double parked cars and trucks but it moves quicker than Ocean Parkway.
There is no left turn off the service road at many more avenues now. While it makes sense to a degree, anyone who finds themselves on the service road now has to make a right turn and go around several blocks, which puts a lot more traffic on local side streets. Also, many streets don’t go thru at 18th Ave, as well as Aves I & J, which really creates a lot more local traffic with confused drivers.